The sun danced behind the veil of haze, casting a muted glow over the Chao Phraya River embankment in Samut Prakan’s Muang district. It was a Saturday unlike any other, with people clad in face masks as they exercised in the open air—a brave attempt to stay active in the midst of a thickening cloud of PM2.5 pollutants. However, doctors cautioned against this hearty determination, warning that exercising with masks could throttle ventilation and exacerbate breathing difficulties, which were already worsened by the persisting air quality crisis.
For Thailand, haze pollution has been a lingering specter, lurking long before the capital found itself enveloped in a shroud of airborne particulates. The seriousness of the situation demanded bold action from the government, which recently allocated a staggering 140 million baht to subsidize free public transportation. The aim? To coax the city’s inhabitants into leaving their cars at home, thus minimizing exhaust emissions and curtailing combustion smoke—measures conceived as emergency remedies in a multi-layered battle.
Yet, tailpipe emissions are merely one piece of the puzzle. Delving deeper, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) has unveiled that the lion’s share of PM2.5—those pernicious particulates—springs from hot spots scattered across the landscape of Thailand. In 2024, data revealed that 68% of these hotspots were nestled in forest zones, while agricultural swathes accounted for 24%, and urban areas comprised the remaining 8%. Early 2025 witnessed a staggering 10,543 hot spots, with rice paddies, forest thickets, and generic farming stretches jostling for infamy as the top contributors.
As PCD director-general Preeyaporn Suwanaged elaborates, while vehicular emissions shoulder a significant portion of the blame in Bangkok, it is agricultural burning, particularly in neighboring provinces, that fuels the crisis. State authorities are tenacious in their efforts to douse these sparks of destruction. Provincial governors have been tasked with ensuring the absence of farm burnings, and industrial oversight has intensified. Case in point: a sugar factory was unceremoniously shut down for purchasing singed sugarcane beyond permissible limits. Legal measures against forest incineration are also in full swing in five provincial fire hotbeds: Tak, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, and Chaiyaphum.
Preeyaporn unveils an anticipatory plan—the PCD’s draft agenda for 2025-2027, poised to be dissected by the National Environment Board. This ambitious blueprint seeks to address haze pollution at its roots rather than leaning on flimsy legal enforcements. Despite the authority’s pledges, nitrous fume-belching vehicles continue to rumble through Bangkok’s asphalt arteries, casting doubt on the roadway’s sanitization progress.
Enter Krit Silapachai, the passionate spokesperson for clean air legislation. He projects optimism about a forthcoming bill, slated for the Lower House’s examination in the coming month, with hopes of it becoming law within the year. Drawing both public interest and policymaker scrutiny, this legislative effort is a hallmark in the nation’s environmental tapestry. “It’s an instrument designed to shield public health. But without grit and determination from the government, its potential will be squandered,” Krit notes with urgency.
As the haze thickens, the Anti-Fake News Centre extends a cautionary forecast: PM2.5 levels in Bangkok may continue to swell, influenced by feeble air circulation and temperature layers forming a blockade for pollutants. Until Wednesday, these conditions pertain, posing escalating health risks. Thus, the center appeals to the populace: don your masks, pare down outdoor pursuits, and spurn activities that kindle fires.
Vigilance becomes a community chore as residents are urged to report black smoke through the Traffy Fondue app or hotline. Real-time air quality stats can be found via the AirBKK app and social media, while bodies like the Bangkok Environmental Office remain on alert, ready to issue timely updates.
A fresh air report paints a sobering picture: PM2.5 concentrations are transgressing the safe boundary of 37.5 microgrammes per cubic meter (µg/m³) across various provinces, with levels in certain northern areas reaching a breath-stealing 63.2 µg/m³. The epicenter, Bangkok, alongside its proximate territories, registers a brooding 38.8–74.0 µg/m³.
Amidst these grey clouds, there’s hope that measures, combined with diligent legislation, pave the way to clearer skies, one deliberate step at a time.
Throwing money at free public transport may be a band-aid solution. They need to address agricultural burning with more rigor.
Agreed! Agriculture contributes a massive chunk of the pollution. They need to offer incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable practices.
But isn’t adopting such practices costly for the farmers? The government might need to subsidize these changes.
True, but some of this funding should come from reallocating what they already invest in damage control.
Absolutely, fiscal strategy seems to be key here. Encouraging long-term solutions should involve supporting the farmers financially.
I’m skeptical that this legislative bill will make a difference. Past efforts haven’t exactly worked wonders.
Legislation might not change everything overnight, but it’s a critical first step. We have to start somewhere.
A bill won’t do anything unless there’s strict enforcement and penalties. Otherwise, it’s just paper.
People are always blaming the government. Why doesn’t the public reduce car usage or backyard burning?
Probably because car convenience is hard to give up, especially without efficient and pleasant alternatives.
Valid point, but as citizens, we all have a collective responsibility too.
I think it’s ironic that anti-fake news centers have to address pollution data now. It speaks volumes about public trust.
Yes, transparency in data is crucial for public trust and personal decision making.
True, but real-time data helps us act quicker. Apps should be rigorously checked for accuracy though.
What about individual health precautions? What can we do beyond wearing masks?
Staying indoors on high pollution days and using air purifiers can help reduce personal exposure.
Makes sense. I should probably invest in a good air purifier then.
People in industrialized countries should just stop telling developing countries how to fix environmental issues.
Farmers are doing what they have done for generations. Maybe the issue is the urban expansion using up agricultural land?
Land use is a complex issue requiring thoughtful urban planning, true.
We still need accountability and sustainable shifts regardless of these complications.
This article doesn’t mention international support. Is Thailand receiving any aid for this crisis?
It would be in everyone’s best interest if neighboring countries cooperated in this effort and offered support.
Agreed, regional collaboration is key in tackling cross-border haze problems.
Glad we are on the same page, Kris and Laura.
This is why I avoid visiting Southeast Asia during these months. It’s just not worth the health risk.
When will countries realize the importance of shifting to renewable energy? Fossil fuels are choking us.
Environmental education should be mandatory in schools to nurture a generation that prioritizes clean air and sustainability.
Instead of complaining, why don’t countries accept that pollution is part of industrialization?
There’s a difference between necessary pollution and irresponsible neglect.
Point taken, but it’s not always a clear line is it?
That’s exactly why we need nuanced policies and corporate accountability.